MATCHDAY 6 – A DAY OF PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS

Matchday 6 of the 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations wason friday one of penalty shoot-outs with both Gambia and Ghana winning their respective matches after regulation time.
Game 11 of WAFU 2019 failed to produce any goals in regular time and saw Gambia progress to the Plate semifinals after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Mauritania.
The first half was void of any real goalmouth action, but Gambia were much better in the second half and had numerous chances to score with Baboucarr Camara even striking the post on one occasion.
Nonetheless, despite their dominance the Scorpions could not score in open play and relied on two penalty shoot-out misses from Mauritania’s Saidou Barry and Mouhamed El Abd Nouh in order to win the tie.
To Gambia’s credit they were clinical in the shoot-out with Matarr Ceesay, Abdoulie Sarr, Muhaammed Samba and Momodou Bojang all converting their spot-kicks.
Following the outcome, Gambia will now face the winner of the match between Nigeria and Cape Verde in the semifinals of the Plate competition on October 9.
The Man of the Match, which is sponsored by Royal Air Maroc, for the game between the Scorpions and Mauritania was the midfielder Ceesay.
The second match of the day also ended in a penalties with Ghana running out 5-4 winners in the shoot-out after regulation time ended 1-1.
Burkina Faso started strong and opened the scoring after only four minutes thanks to a strike from Ilias Tiendrebeogo, but Ghana managed to level matters in the 38th minute courtesy of a goal from Mumini Shafiu.
The Black Stars dominated the rest of the match, but were unable to find the right ball in the final third. Fortunately for Ghana their goalkeeper Eric Antwi Ofori showed real class with two penalty saves in the shoot-out to see them to victory.
Following the outcome, Ghana will now face the winner of the match between Cote d’Ivoire and Togo in the semifinals of the Cup competition on October 9.
The Man of the Match, which is sponsored by Royal Air Maroc, for the game between Ghana and Burkina Faso was Black Stars attacker Augustine Okrah.